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Detectives lead Chris Dawson away from a Gold Coast home this morning. (Supplied)

Just before he was denied bail in a Gold Coast court today, Dawson placed his hands over his ears as the magistrate read out the facts of the murder charge he is set to face when extradited to NSW.

In a Parramatta court tomorrow Dawson, a former rugby league star, is expected to be charged with the murder of his wife, Lynette Joy Dawson, who vanished from the couple's Sydney home in 1982.

A spokesman for Chris Dawson's family said they are "disappointed" in today's explosive developments, and claimed there was "clear and uncontested" evidence Lyn was alive long after she disappeared.

NSW police have stated they are comfortable with the strength of the case against Dawson despite not finding the body of Lyn.

Dawson was taken aback but "came quietly" with detectives as they arrived to take him to Southport police station today, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters.

Lynette Dawson went missing from her home in Sydney's northern beaches in 1982. ()

Comm. Fuller said police, who conducted several digs at the former Dawson family home in Bayview, on Sydney's northern beaches, wanted to find Lyn's body but said that it was "not crucial to finalising the matter".

"We have solved homicides before without identifying the body," Comm. Fuller said.

Detectives hope Dawson will be able to give them important information when he is interviewed.

Dawson's brother, Peter, told nine.com.au in a written statement the family has "no doubt whatsoever that Chris will be found not guilty as he is innocent."

He added they were "disappointed" at the decision to arrest Dawson.

"There is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters," Peter Dawson said.

Comm. Fuller said NSW "haven't given up hope" of finding Lyn's body for the brief of evidence.

Chris Dawson approached by A Current Affair, during a segment looking into Lynette Dawson's disappearance. (A Current Affair)

"We are certainly hoping that an interview with [Dawson] who is currently in custody in Queensland will assist us with the outcomes of where the body may be."

NSW police had amassed "an enormous amount of evidence", he said.

"There were predominantly statements from witnesses that helped us to pieces of the puzzle is together," Comm Fuller said.

He said two additional witness statements had been taken since April, but would not comment on the significance of that evidence.

A general view of the former home of missing woman Lynette Dawson, at Bayview on the northern beaches in Sydney. (AAP)

Dawson was the subject of globally acclaimed podcast, The Teacher's Pet, which investigated the disappearance of Lyn, then aged 33, in mysterious circumstances from her home in January, 1982.

Ms Dawson vanished following the painful disintegration of her marriage to her husband, whose extra-marital affair with a teenage student grew in intensity throughout 1981.

Joanne Curtis, who was student of Dawson's at Cromer High where he taught PE, moved into the family home just days after Lyn vanished.

NSW detectives will apply for Dawson's extradition at his first court appearance.

Following extensive investigations, Strike Force Scriven detectives requested the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) review their brief of evidence in April 2018.

NSW Police and Forensic Services personnel sift through dirt as they search the former home of missing woman Lynette Dawson, at Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches. (AAP)

Earlier this week, the ODPP provided advice to police, and following further inquiries, detectives applied for an arrest warrant before travelling to Queensland.

Comm. Fuller said NSW police had this spoken with Ms Dawson's family, who have fought for justice for decades. He said they were "relieved".
Ms Dawson's brother Gregg Simms exclusively told 9NEWS it had been a hugely emotional morning.

"I was just ecstatic that we've got a result. We were always hopeful but if you look back over the years you could say we’ve been kicked in the guts a few times, but we’ve got there," Mr Simms said.

"We were on the side verandah when [we found out Dawson was arrested] and we just grabbed each other and had a cry.

"We've always been determined to find the truth and that’s the reason why we’ve fought to keep Lyn's name alive and out there with all the different media"

Wedding photo of Chris and Lynette Dawson. ()

As highlighted in the popular podcast by Australian journalist Hedley Thomas, two NSW coronial inquests have concluded Ms Dawson was probably murdered.

Dawson has always maintained his innocence, and claimed his wife had run away to live with a religious cult in remote area of NSW.

In September a team of NSW police spent several days digging areas around the former Dawson family home, including by a swimming pool, where police believed it was possible Ms Dawson had been buried.

But they found no human remains or other evidence on the property, which is surrounded by bushland.